I had to remove a nearly completed bird’s nest from the hanging plant that is straight ahead in this photo. I heard some chirping yesterday morning and the day before which, when I finally put two and two together, sent me outside to check those plants. Sure enough, there was a nest in one of them. (I’ve only had them for about 5 days!) But I had to remove it because these plants need a lot of watering, which would endanger little babies. I’ll check it again this morning. Sorry, mama and papa bird!
We did a lot outside yesterday, including mowing the entire front lawn, the corral and the area near the shed. We wanted to get it done before the predicted thunderstorms arrived later in the day. Happily, those storms never came. I yanked a lot of weeds and repositioned the stones that make up the borders of all the garden beds. I cut down a sapling that was not in a good place. All this on four hours of sleep! (Patting myself on the back just a bit.) But, when mid-afternoon hit, yours truly collapsed into her blogging chair.
Today, a rarity of late, will be mostly sunny. So I’m going to the nursery to get some top soil, more potting soil, a few more plants, and some more seeds. I’ll soak the morning glory and moonflower seeds overnight, and tomorrow I will sow them.
Forget-me-nots are tenacious little things. They’ve self-seeded all over the place including here, smack dab in the middle of some gravel.
The hostas are growing by leaps and bounds. This is that time of year when a single day makes a difference, when I look at the plants and wonder how they could have grown so much in twenty-four hours. It’s truly amazing.
I’m reading a lovely book by British author Penelope Lively called Life in the Garden. It’s just plain delicious reading. From the book jacket: “reflections on gardening, art, literature, and life.” It’s less than 200 pages long and I recommend it for all you garden and plant lovers.
We watched It Happened One Night last night. It’s truly one of our favorite movies and we never tire of it. Gable and Colbert at their best, a cast of wonderful supporting actors, and Frank Capra guiding the whole thing. I love Capra. I want to live in that world; a world where character matters, where having a strong moral compass is required, and where the bad guys get their comeuppance.
I have yet to answer yesterday’s comments. By mid-afternoon I was so tired and sleep deprived that I just couldn’t do it. But I will now. Thanks for your patience.
Happy Wednesday.
Claudia, yay for sunshine! Yes, a single 24-hour period can show remarkable changes in the garden. I’ll have to check into Life in the Garden. I’m chugging along with Louise Penny…I’ve finished every book with a quiet “Wow” escaping my lips. So far, my favorite is always the last book I’ve read! But I just finished reading Bury Your Dead, and found it not only powerful but another revelation of the characters, as if I’m getting to know them even better with each book. Bury Your Dead had my most audible “Wow” to date!
Concerning my California species of lilac….I meant to say that the deer only like the tender growing tips and will otherwise leave the plant alone. And since it should be tip-pruned to encourage growth, the deer do it for free! But since I have no deer around, I have to do the tip pruning with my Japanese garden scissors.
She is an amazing writer. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the books, Wendy!
wow … you and don accomplished a lot yesterday! hope you can take it easier today.
glad you found that nest-building in time! i apologize to birds and other creatures of the world pretty much every day (for what we people do either accidentally or on purpose that hurts them).
still chugging away today on the great paper sort-and-shred … and happy to see a big (motivating) difference! :)
wishing everyone a great day!
kathy in iowa
your porch looks pretty … bet it’s a nice place to spend some time.
glad you got some sunshine, too.
kathy in iowa
The porch is the reason I wanted this house. I love it out there!
Nope. I did just as much today! It was sunny all day long so I had to get things done.
Wow! You two were busy bees yesterday!! We have high winds and heavy rain today. It is quite cold out. My husband is chaperoning a field trip from school today to the local winery. The littles have a garden at school and have been planting and caring for that garden for several years now, and the families and teachers keep it up all summer. Today they will learn about planting grapes and how they are cared for. Hate that it is so cold & rainy out there. After eating their sack lunches they head to a farm implement business to learn about the big farm equipment. Fun times!! He was actually looking forward to both stops!
Have fun plant shopping today. Hope you find all you need!
I hope the rain let up a bit for the kids on their field trip!
Ah…so that’s where the sun is! Chris described the weather here perfectly….not a garden day here for sure. You did get a lot done yesterday, and on such little sleep. I’m envious…you are leaps and bounds ahead of us, not only in blooms, but in work done. Not enough good hours in a day to accomplish much around here.
Your porch is looking good. It’s really shaping up…especially with the salt bags gone….lol. Have fun at the garden center…pick up some pretties! ;)
Donnamae!! The day after we chatted about the Orioles, “mine” returned, as well!! I had 4 males most of the day fighting over the jelly. Today I have seen my first 2 females. One is snacking as I write this. I still haven’t seen a Hummer. Have a great day!! It really is a yukky one, but I am getting some inside things accomplished.
Oh…that is great! They are such beautiful birds. I found a covered oriole feeder at FleetFarm….trying to keep the jelly dry. It has four cups for the jelly. I think it worked, because they have been feeding all day in this lousy weather.
Hope your hubby’s field trip went well. What winery was it? I’m always looking for more new ones to me to check out! ;)
Wollersheim’s. I’m sure you have been. It really is beautiful!!!!
Yes…I have…but, always looking for more in Wisconsin. Thanks! ;)
I’m late with seed sowing – but I’m going to try to get that done tomorrow.
I once had a nest built in a wreath on my front door! I didn’t notice it until mid-April because when I both left for work – and returned – it was dark. Amazingly, the baby birds lived in it for several weeks, more than a month I think – with their mom popping in from time to time with food. All of which I could see through the peephole in the door too! I could hear them chirping away like crazy a lot of the time & felt like Jane Goodall – it was incredible. Then one Friday, in mid June, I think, I finally got home while it was still light out, and they were gone. All flown off. I was actually heartbroken. I’d really grown attached to them. I tried to remove the nest from that rather pricy eucalyptus wreath, but it was really IN THERE! No luck, had to toss it. Hope the little family that was going to set up housekeeping in your hanging basket finds “other accomodations” nearby. Have fun in the garden today. 🐦
#Resist
#ImpeachTrump
#DisBarr
Yes, we had that, too. And I’ve heard from others who have encountered nests in their wreaths. One year, I was away coaching from the first of the year to June. Don never took the Christmas wreath down and by the time I got home, I saw that the wreath was still up and moved to take it down and there was the nest! Don, of course, was oblivious!
They came back and tried to build it again! I had to remove it. They’re determined but they are going to have to find other digs!
“where the bad guys get their comeuppance” . . . FINGERS CROSSED!!!
In the meantime, more obstruction, more disgusting moves by Barr. It never ends.
Claudia, I have had good luck deterring nest building in hanging baskets by sticking 5-6 plastic forks with the pointy tines up into the plant.
I have been fighting with a robin who wants to nest on top of a grapevine wreath next to my front door. I keep pulling down her efforts, she must be so frustrated.
Someone else told me that on IG, Marilyn, so I stuck some forks in the plants. Fingers crossed, because I had to remove yet another nest this morning!
Claudia, every spring birds start building in our hanging baskets of ferns, usually on the first afternoon we hang them. We never disturb their nests. We water carefully from the bottom or using a slow stream down the inside edge of each pot. Bird’s nests in trees get rained on after all. We keep feeders and shallow bath/watering pans nearby. One hanging basket at the end of the porch has remained empty for three years now for the pair of mourning doves who have claimed it. I love seeing her dainty profile above the rim of the basket. I don’t think I could make the choice between having birds or flowers.
Sherry in Little Rock
When birds are nesting in our hanging plants, we cannot spend time on the porch. At all. They are too protective of their eggs, understandably so. They won’t let us relax. We live on an acre and a half with well over 100 trees and lots of bushes. They have plenty of places to nest. I love birds and I love plants. I also love my porch and I intend to spend a lot of time out there.
Your porch looks beautiful and inviting. Very different weather here – windy, cold, rain. With no one able to be out in the garden, the rabbits have had fun eating the hosta shoots (they already decimated my tulips) and anything else they can get their teeth into. Raining tonight again as I type this. I think we’re going to skip spring altogether and go right into summer.
Saw “Come From Away” last night and, as you said, it was just fantastic. When we got there I found out our excellent seats were courtesy of the office of the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago in honor of the Ontario Lt. Governor visiting here for a meeting about the Great Lakes. Dean had lunch with her when she visited his offices (yeah, he’s in the “water” biz). Anyway, she gave a little speech on stage before the play with a Mountie in full uniform standing next to her. When they came to sit in front of us for the performance, I hoped he’d take his hat off and he did. What a wonderful night. What a moving story that we all need right now. I told Dean we don’t do this often enough and hinted I’d love to see “Anastasia” when it comes in July.
I’m so happy to hear you liked Come From Away! And fingers crossed that you get to see Anastasia!
oh just look at your porch and the scenery around it! it’s just beautiful!
and I also watched ‘It Happened One Night!’ I LOVE it. everything about it.
and to think it was just a little ‘throw off’ movie! and look at the awards and love it has had.
puts the big budget no dialogue films to shame.
enjoy the sun! xoxo
I love, love, love that movie! Take care, Tammy!
You are one lean, mean, garden machine! And boy, does it ever look wonderful. I really admire your strong back and enthusiasm! It’s paying off big time.
Aren’t those forget-me-nots perfect? I need to add some of those as a border this year.
Have a lovely day!
My back is not at all strong! I have recurring lower back issues, but I just plunge ahead in spite of it. I’m feeling it this morning, believe me! Thanks, Jeanie!